View full sizeBenjamin Brink/The Oregonian/2009City Commissioner Dan Saltzman is eager to see Portland rejoin the Joint Terrorism Task Force in light of last week's arrest of a would-be terrorist at the city's annual tree-lighting ceremony.

Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman on Monday urged the city to immediately rejoin the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force and called for council action at next week's meeting.

"The events of this holiday weekend have made it clear that we need to have seamless communication with our regional and federal law enforcement partners," Saltzman said.

Portland's distinction as the only metropolitan city that withdrew its officers five years ago from the multi-agency task force has become a hot button issue since Friday's arrest of Mohamed Mohamud. The 19-year-old is accused of trying to detonate what he thought was an explosive-filled van parked beside thousands assembled in Pioneer Courthouse Square for the annual tree-lighting ceremony.

"An event like this causes you to ask tough questions: Are we doing the best we can to protect public safety? And, part of that is, whether we should be part of the JTTF?" said Commissioner Nick Fish, host of Friday night's celebration.

Saltzman was the lone council member to vote against pulling out of the task force in April 2005. Former Portland Mayor Tom Potter led the push, citing insufficient civilian oversight of city officers who must adhere to stricter state laws.

Chief Mike Reese declined to say if he believes Portland should rejoin the task force. But it's clear Mayor Sam Adams and council members are clamoring for more information, with some eager to tackle the question again while others caution against a knee-jerk reaction.

The mayor, who was unaware of the alleged bomb plot and the FBI sting operation to thwart it until after the arrest, said Monday he's asked the city attorney's office to determine if any relevant federal laws have changed in the past five years. He told the city attorney to use this case to question what would have been different if the city had been a task force participant.

Federal officials say the short answer is: Portland police would have been involved earlier, with a deeper role in the inquiry and would be working side-by-side with task force investigators.

Adams, who serves as police commissioner, likely would have been briefed on non-classified information. At the least, he would have known the Police Bureau was involved in a national security investigation.Specifics on whose e-mails were being intercepted or other details would not have been shared because the mayor lacks secret clearance for classified information.

Reese said FBI Special Agent in Charge Arthur Balizan alerted him in September of the inquiry that began in August 2009. The chief assigned command staff and criminal intelligence officers to assist. He said his officers' role was limited to logistic planning and support for the sting operation and arrest.

"Once the suspect indicated the tree-lighting ceremony was his target of choice, Art Balizan called to let me know, and we offered up whatever resources he needed to assist," Reese said.

The chief said he didn't hesitate when the FBI requested help."It was clear to me that this involved a criminal investigation that we can assist in," Reese said.

The chief said he also signed a confidentiality agreement with the FBI.

"From a law enforcement perspective, it would be very difficult to run an undercover operation if you're telling everyone about it."

Had it involved an actual bomb, Reese said he would have informed the mayor.

Fish said Interim U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton greeted him at the tree-lighting ceremony Friday about 5:45 p.m. Fish, who had no inkling of the FBI operation or arrest, assumed Holton was there as a Pink Martini fan.

He said at first he was disturbed he hadn't been informed and wondered if the teen could have been arrested earlier. But after talking to Holton and the chief Saturday, he was comforted to learn of the steps taken to ensure the public's safety, and realized Holton's presence signalled everything was fine.

Federal officials and police made sure Mohamud wasn't armed before he approached the square. They made sure the 19-year-old suspect wasn't driving the white van carrying the phony explosives, which could have been used as a weapon itself, and ensured he left the square right after the van was parked beside the square to meet up with other federal operatives by Union Station.

Commissioner Randy Leonard, who voted to withdraw from the task force in 2005, said he'd only support rejoining if the elected official who oversees the Police bureau had oversight of officers' involvement. He cited the botched Brandon Mayfield FBI investigation, and past Portland police disgressions regarding the keeping of files on political activists as examples of why the mayor needs oversight.

Leonard also said the resolution the council passed in 2005 allows for case-by-case police involvement with the task force. It also sets clear parameters allowing the chief to sit on the task force's executive group and brief the mayor, and for the FBI to brief the mayor and chief on terrorist threats.

Since 9-11, Holton said having officers from diverse agencies talking regularly from an early stage is the best way to protect the public.

"I agree with the mayor and others that it's healthy and sensible for the city to continue to evaluate its role with the JTTF," Holton said. "But that said, we've been through a very intense event in the last few days, and there's no reason to rush into a decision. We're going to continue working very closely with them no matter what happens."